"The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." —Luke 1:35

King David wanted to build a temple for God so the Lord could have a house on earth in which to dwell (2 Sm 7:2ff). God told King David that He never asked for a house on earth (2 Sm 7:7), and besides, no house or temple on earth could contain Him anyway (see 1 Kgs 8:27). In fact, the earth isn't big enough to hold even the books which would have to be written about the Lord (Jn 21:25), so how much less could the world, or any temple, contain the Lord Himself (2 Chr 2:5). The very universe itself isn't vast enough to contain the Lord (2 Chr 6:18).

How can it be (see Lk 1:34) then that the womb of a young teenage girl is big enough to contain the "Son of God"? (Lk 1:35) After centuries of waiting, God finally found a suitable dwelling place for Himself in the "Temple" of Mary's womb, "for nothing is impossible with God" (Lk 1:37).

We disciples of Jesus are Mary's children (Jn 19:27). Baptized into God's family, and as Mary's children, we are also chosen as "a dwelling place for God in the Spirit" (Eph 2:22). Not only does He dwell within us in the Spirit, Jesus literally dwells within us when we receive Him into our bodies in the Eucharist (see Jn 6:56). Jesus then lives in us (Jn 17:23). In our bodies, which are temples of God (see 1 Cor 6:19), the life of Jesus is made manifest to us, and then through us to the world (2 Cor 4:10-11, RNAB). "How can this be?" (Lk 1:34) "Nothing is impossible with God" (Lk 1:37).

Prayer: Father, purify the temple of my life this Advent (Mt 21:12ff). May I be a worthy and pleasing dwelling place for You.

Praise: "O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, Who showed Yourself to Moses in the burning bush, Who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: Come, stretch out Your mighty hand to set us free."

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") for One Bread, One Body covering the period from December 1, 2005 through January 31, 2006.†Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 19, 2005.

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